The new woodlands will cover an area of ​​about 84,000 square kilometers, roughly the size of a country like Ireland. The goal of the operation is to significantly increase forest cover to 23% of the total landmass by the year 2020. The current forest area is 21%, according to China Daily.

In a meeting, Zhang Jianlong, head of the state forestry administration, said China aims to grow at least 6.66 million hectares of new forest in 2018 alone. 208 million hectares are forested in China; 33.8 million hectares have been added in the lastfive years.

To help citizens who suffer from air pollution in Beijing, Hebei Province will increase its total forest cover to 35 percent by the end of 2020. Most of the province’s troops will also be removed from the city. front to contribute to reforestation efforts.

Much of the smog that covers the north of the country during cold periods comes from Beijing. Three years ago, this city announced a plan for the dismissal of 300,000 PLA ​​soldiers and staff.

Since then, they have been reassigned to non-military posts, which include planting trees and “renovating large state-level infrastructure projects,” reports Asia Times.